Death with Dignity Act; penalties. (SB668)

Introduced By

Sen. Ghazala Hashmi (D-Midlothian)

Progress

Introduced
Passed Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate
Signed by Governor
Became Law

Description

Death with Dignity Act; penalties. Allows an adult who has been determined by an attending physician and consulting physician to be suffering from a terminal condition to request medication for the purpose of ending his life in a humane and dignified manner. The bill requires that a patient's request for medication to end his life be given orally on two occasions, that such request be in writing, that such request be signed by the patient and two witnesses, and that the patient be given an express opportunity to rescind his request. The bill requires that before a patient is prescribed medication to end his life, the attending physician must (i) confirm that the patient is making an informed decision, (ii) refer the patient to a capacity reviewer if the physician is uncertain as to whether the patient is making an informed decision, (iii) refer the patient to a consulting physician for confirmation or rejection of the attending physician's diagnosis, and (iv) inform the patient that he may rescind the request at any time. The bill provides that neither a patient's request for medication to end his life in a humane and dignified manner nor his act of ingesting such medication shall have any effect upon a life, health, or accident insurance policy or an annuity contract. The bill makes it a Class 2 felony (a) to willfully and deliberately alter, forge, conceal, or destroy a patient's request, or rescission of request, for medication to end his life with the intent and effect of causing the patient's death or (b) to coerce, intimidate, or exert undue influence on a patient to request medication for the purpose of ending his life or to destroy the patient's rescission of such request with the intent and effect of causing the patient's death. Finally, the bill grants immunity from civil or criminal liability and professional disciplinary action to any person who complies with the provisions of the bill and allows health care providers to refuse to participate in the provision of medication to a patient for the purpose of ending the patient's life. Read the Bill »

Outcome

Bill Has Failed

History

DateAction
01/20/2022Presented and ordered printed 22103583D
01/20/2022Referred to Committee on the Judiciary
01/21/2022Impact statement from VCSC (SB668)
01/26/2022Rereferred from Judiciary (13-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
01/26/2022Rereferred to Education and Health
01/31/2022Assigned Education sub: Health Professions
02/03/2022Failed to report (defeated) in Education and Health (7-Y 7-N 1-A) (see vote tally)

Comments

Angela Herring, M.D. writes:

Let's join 10 other states and the District of Columbia in letting (agreeable) physicians give mentally competent adults who have a terminal illness and are able to self-medicate a prescription to end their suffering and have a peaceful death with dignity. 70% of Virginians favor this. It cuts across party and religion. Having a prescription alleviates fear and anxiety and some folks actually choose not to use it.